A first-time winner of one of surf lifesaving’s most illustrious races is relishing the biggest victory of her career.
Electra Outram, of Sunshine Beach Surf Life Saving Club, won the Coolangatta Gold in 2hr40min56sec, to finish ahead of Carla Papac of Burleigh Heads SLSC (2:42.30) and Dominique Stott of Mooloolaba SLSC (2:42.55).
The 25.6km race included ski, swim, board and run legs.
“I’m feeling really tired at the moment but really elevated, really ecstatic,” the 24-year-old said after the event.
“I know my strongest legs were towards the end in the board and the run.
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“I just had to make sure, in the swim and the ski, I didn’t burn too many tickets so I could come strong at the end.
“Out of the swim (and) onto the board, I saw Jemma Smith and Carla (Papac) not so far in front of me and I knew then I could catch them.”
The race was the opening round of the 2025-26 Iron Series.
“I’m really privileged to be able to race this event,” she said.
“It builds a lot of confidence being able to start (the series) with a win early.
“I’d like to give a little shout-out to my little brother (Zale), who is the best handler and took out the (Coolangatta) Sprint earlier in the elite male.”
The Shaw and Partners Coolangatta Gold was shortened from 48.1km this year, as part of a refresh for the event.
Surf lifesaving legend Ali Day won the race for an 11th time to launch his final series campaign, a day after being inducted into the Australian Surf Life Saving Hall of Fame.
Day, of Surfers Paradise SLSC, won in 2:23.39, ahead of BMD Northcliffe duo Matt Bevilacqua (2:24.32) and Cory Taylor (2:24.58).
“It’s so good. That’s probably one of the first times I had doubts coming into it. I’m just counting my lucky stars that I got away with another one,” he said.
Day, who was once among a crop of stars at Mooloolaba SLSC, confirmed it was his last Gold.
“That is 100 per cent the last time I’ll do this race,” he said.
“I still knew in the back of my mind I had one more in me (after last year) and I’m so glad I was able to win this one today.”
